Sealing flaps for garment openings



Jung 25, 1963 'r. 1.. BAILEY SEALING FLAPS FOR GARMENT OPENINGS 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 22, 1961 INVENTOR Theodore L. Bailey June 25,1963 T. L. BAILEY 3,094,703

SEALING FLAPS FOR GARMENT OPENINGS Filed June 22, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR Theodore .L. BoiLQg.

it rte rent 3,094,703 Patented June 25, 1963 Fine 3,094,703 SEALINGFLAPS FOR GARMENT OPENINGS Theodore L. Bailey, Natick, Mass, assignor tothe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the ArmyFiled June 2-2, 1%1, Eer. No. 1%,889 12 Claims. (Cl. 2%) (Granted underTitle 35, US. Code (1952), see, 266) The invention described herein, ifpatented, may be manufactured and used by or for the Government forgovernmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

The invention rel-ates to means for sealing or semi-sealing garmentopenings to prevent the entry of injurious liquids, gases, dusts, oreven mere cold air. The usual garment is either closed by a simplebuttoned opening or is provided with an elaborate built-in arrangementof interengaging flaps which add greatly to the cost of the garment butwhich must be used at all times to close the garment openingirrespective of whether or not it is desirable to use them. Forinstance, such built-in arrangements retard ventilation and areundesirable in hot weather unless circumstances make use of the sealingmeans mandatory.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application,Serial Number 36,696, filed June 16, 1960, now abandoned.

With the foregoing in view, it is an object of the invention to providemeans for at least semi-sealing a garment opening which is readilydetachably connected to and removed from a standard garment withoutmodification of the same and without requiring any special tools orskills.

A further object is to provide such a device which is secured to thegarment by the usual separable fasteners used to close the garmentopening in question.

A further object is to provide an improved means for at leastsemi-sealing a garment opening which comprises a flat strip at least aslong as the opening and which is substantially Z-shaped in cross sectionto provide opposed bights each receiving an opening-defining freegarment edge therein, together with means for securing the folded stripin position.

Other objects and advantages reside in the particular structure of theinvention, combination and arrangement of the several elements thereofwith each other and/or with a garment, all of which will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the attacheddrawing in connection with the following specification wherein theinvention is shown, described and claimed.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a device according to the invention inunfolded condition and apart from a garment;

FIGURE 2 is fragmentary front elevational view of a garment showing thedevice of FIGURE 1 applied thereto;

FIGURE 3 is fragmentary transverse sectional View taken substantially onthe plane of the line 3-3 of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 are similar fragmentary front elevational viewsshowing successive steps in the application of the invention to thegarment;

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of a modification of the invention in unfoldedcondition and apart from a garment;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary front view of a garment showing themodification applied thereto;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantiallyon the plane of the line 9--9 of FIG- URE 8;

FIGURES 10 and 11 are front and rear elevational views respectively of afurther modification apart from a garment;

FIGURE 12, is a fragmentary front elevational view of a garment showingthe modification of FIGURES 10 and 11 applied thereto; and

FIGURE 13 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantiallyon the plane of the line 1313 of FIGURE 12.

Referring specifically to the drawing wherein like reference charactersdesignate like parts in all views, and referring at first to the speciesof FIGURES 1-6 inclusive, 10 designates generally .a preferredembodiment of the invention which comprises a sheet of flexible andsubstantially impervious material having a length at least equal to thatof the opening which it is intended to seal. In this connection, thesheet shown is for closing the front opening of a garment 11 such as awomans shirt, coat, blouse or jacket which is closed by the usual row ofbuttons 12 and the cooperating buttonholes 13. The buttons 12 areattached to the front surface of an inner free edge 14 of the garment,which edge defines one side of the garment opening. The other side ofthe opening is defined by the overlapping free edge 15 in which thebuttonholes 13 are formed.

The seal 10 includes an outer margin 17, and inner margin 16 togetherwith top and bottom edges 18 and 19 respectively. Inner and outer rowsof buttonholes 20 and 21 respectively are formed in the seal adjacentthe inner margin 16 and parallel thereto. Two laterally spacedbuttonholes 22 and 23 are formed near the top edge 18 respectively inalignment with the rows of but tonholes 20, 21. Two vertically spacedbuttonholes 24 and 25 are formed in the seal iii adjacent the innermargin 16, the buttonhole 24 being also adjacent the top edge 18 and inlateral alignment with the buttonholes 22 and 23. The buttonhole 25 isin lateral alignment with two of the lowermost buttonholes 22 and 23.

In use the device is positioned as best seen in FIGURE 3 and is appliedto the garment in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6. Thus,referring at first to FIGURE 4, the garment is unbuttoned and the seal10 is inserted under the free edge 14 with the outer margin 17 extendingbeyond such free edge. The outer margin 17 is then turned backward tooverlie the garment free edge 14 and the buttons 12 are buttoned throughthe upper buttonhole 22 and those inner buttonholes 2.0 which registerwith the buttons 12. In this connection a number of extra buttonholes 20and 21 have been provided to accommodate garments other than that shownand having varying spacings of the buttons.

In the next step, FIGURE 5, the garment outer free edge 15 is buttonedto the buttons 12. Thereafter, FIG- URE 6, the outer margin 17 is againreversely directed to overlie the free edge 15 and dispose the outerbuttonholes 23- and 21 in registry with the buttons 12 to which they arebuttoned to complete the seal. The completed arrangement, FIGURE 3 is asubstantially S- or Z-shaped strip which provides oppositely directedinner and outer bights 26 and 27 which respectively receive therein theinner and outer free edges 14 and 15. Thus, the arrangement provides asemi-seal for the garment which is highly effective to retard thepassage through the buttoned opening of air, gas, liquids, dusts andother undesirable matter. At the same time, the device is readilyapplicable to a standard garment without special skill, tools orknowledge. It is equally easily detached from the garment.

The buttonholes 24 and 25 are utilizable with another garment as arethose buttonholes 20 and 21 not shown as being used. Thus, thearrangement shown may be considered a universal seal in that it is usedon the military shirt shown as the garment, is likewise usable on theuniform coat or blouse, and may also be used on a military overcoat andon certain types of jackets.

The modification illustrated in FIGURES 7, 8 and 9 shows a species ofthe invention which is adapted to be applied to a pair of trousers 30 ofthe type having a buttoned fly front comprising an inner fly 31 having arow of buttons 32 fixed thereon and a outer fly 33 formed with a row ofbuttonholes 34 for the buttons 32 which in turn, are covered by theusual flap 35 which is secured to the outer fly 33 to conceal thebuttonholes and the buttons. This species of the invention comprises asubstantially semi-oval sheet 36 of impervious material having astraight top edge 37 and a curved side and bottom edge 38. A pair of tietapes 39 are secured to each end of the top edge 37 for a purpose to beapparent. A vertical row of buttonholes 46 is formed in the sheet 36generally centrally thereof.

In use, the trouser fly is unbuttoned and the sheet 36 is applied to theinner surface of the inner fly 31 with the upper edge 37 flush with theupper edge of the waistband. The adjacent pair of tapes 39 are now tiedto an adjacent belt loop 41. Sheet 36 is now folded over the free edgeof the inner fly 31 so that the buttonholes 4t) register with and arebuttoned to buttons 32 of such fly. The outer fly 33 is now buttoned tothe buttons 32 in the usual manner. The remainder of sheet 36 is nowfolded over the free edge of the outer fly 33 so as to overlie the flap35. The other pair of tapes 39 are now tied to an adjacent belt loop 42of the trousers. Of course, securing means other than the tapes 39 arecontemplated but these have the advantage of requiring no modificationof the trousers 30.

As in the species of FIGURES l-6, the device in use provides inner andouter bights 43 and 44 respectively which receive therein the free edgesof the inner and outer flies 31 and 33 so as to bar the entry of foreignmatter through the closure.

The modification of FIGURES 104 .3 is very similar to the species ofFIGURES 1-6. Here however, the sheet 45 has an inner edge 46 prefoldedso as to underlie the main body of the sheet and an inner row ofbuttonholes 48. The lower edge of the folded edge 46 is bar-tacked as at47, FIGURE 11 or otherwise suitably secured to the lower edge of themain body of sheet 45 to hold the edge 46 in such pre-folded position.As in the first described species there is an outer row of buttonholes49* provided in the sheet 45. Also, inner and outer top buttonholes 50and 51 are provided. Inner bight 53 is thus preformed.

In use, this species is applied to a shirt 54 or the like by insertingthe inner free edge 55 of the shirt into the pocket formed by thepre-folded edge portion 46 of the sheet 45. The buttonhole 5t) and suchof the buttonholes 43 as register with the shirt buttons 56 are thenbuttoned and the outer free edge 57 of the shirt is buttoned to thebuttons 56 by the usual buttonholes 53. The exposed edge portion of thesheet 45 is now folded over the free outer edge 57 of the shirt to formthe outer bight 59' and to register the appropriate outer buttonholes51, 49 with the buttons 56 to which they are secured, as before.

It is to be understood that the specific embodiments shown and describedhereinabove may be varied considerably Within the spirit and scope ofthe invention as claimed hereinafter. Thus, while there have been shownand described what is now thought to be the preferred species of theinvention, it should be understood that the same is susceptible of stillother forms and expressions. Therefore, it is not my intention to limitmyself to the precise structures shown and described hereinabove butonly as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. The combination with a garment having an opening defined byoverlapping inner and outer garment free edges, at least one individualseparable fastener element on each edge for securing said free edgestogether; of a flexible flap for sealing said opening, said flap beingat least as long as said opening, said flap having an inner marginunderlying said inner free edge, said flap having an integral middleportion which is reversely directed to extend between said inner andouter free edges and provide an inner bight receiving said inner freeedge therein, said middle flap portion being formed with a holetherethrough in registry with said fastener elements, said flap havingan integral outer margin which is reversely directed relative to saidmiddle portion to overlie said outer free edge and provide an outerbight receiving said outer free edge therein, and means readilydetachably securing said outer flap margin to one of said separatefastener elements in said overlying relation to said outer free edge.

2. The combination with a garment having an opening defined byoverlapping inner and outer edge portions, said outer edge portion beingformed with a buttonhole, said inner edge portion having a buttonsecured thereto for passage through said buttonhole to connect said edgeportions together, of a flexible flap for sealing said opening, saidflap having an inner margin underlying said inner edge portion and anouter margin overlying said outer edge portion, said flap having acentral portion disposed between said inner and outer edge portions,there being integral oppositely directed bight portions connecting saidinner and outer margins to said central portion across said edgeportions, said central flap portion being formed with a buttonhole inregistry with said first named buttonhole and passing said buttontherethrough, and means for readily detachably securing said outermargin to said outer edge portion of said garment.

3. The combination with a garment having an opening defined byoverlapping inner and outer edge portions, said outer edge portion beingformed with a buttonhole, said inner edge portion having a buttonsecured thereto for passage through said buttonhole to connect said edgeportions together, of a flexible flap for sealing said opening, saidflap having an inner margin underlying said inner edge portion and anouter margin overlying said outer edge portion, said flap having acentral portion disposed between said inner and outer edge portions,there being integral oppositely directed bight portions connecting saidinner and outer margins to said central portion across said edgeportions, said central flap portion being formed with a buttonhole inregistry with said first named buttonhole and passing said buttontherethrough, and said outer flap portion being formed with a buttonholereceiving said button therethrough to readily detachably secure saidouter margin to said outer edge portion of said garment.

4. In a body garment, the combination with a garment opening defined byoverlapping inner and outer free edges; of sealing means providing atleast a semi-seal for said opening, said sealing means comprising asubstantially fiat S-shaped body of sheet material having a lengthsubstantially the same as the length of said opening, said sealing meansincluding oppositely directed inner and outer bights respectivelyreceiving therein said inner and outer free edges, and means for readilydetachably securing said sealing means to said garment.

5. In a body garment, the combination with an elongated opening definedby overlapping inner and outer free edges, said free edges beingprovided with registering rows of buttons and buttonholes for detachablysecuring said free edge together; of sealing means providing at least asemi-seal for said opening, said sealing means comprising asubstantially fiat S-shaped body of flexible sheet material having alength substantially the same as that of said opening, said sealingmeans including oppositely directed inner and outer bights respectivelyre ceiving therein said inner and outer free edges, and said sealingmeans being formed with at least one row of buttonholes in registry withsaid row of buttons and receiving the same therethrough whereby toprovide means for securing said sealing means to said garment in sealingrelation to said opening.

6. In a body garment, the combination with an elongated opening definedby overlapping inner and outer free edges, said free edges beingprovided with registering rows of buttons and buttonholes for detachablysecuring said free edges together; of sealing means providing at least asemi-seal for said opening, said sealing means comprising asubstantially flat S-shaped body of flexible sheet material having alength substantially the same as that of said opening, said sealingmeans including oppositely directed inner and outer bights respectivelyreceiving therein said inner and outer free edges, and said sealingmeans being formed with two superposed rows of buttonholes in registrywith said row of buttons and receiving the same therethrough to providemeans for detachably securing said sealing means to said garment insealing relation to said opening.

7. In a body garment, the combination with an elongated opening definedby overlapping inner and outer free edges, there being a row of buttonson said inner free edge outwardly thereof, there being a registering rowof buttonholes formed in said outer free edge for detachably securingsaid free edges together; of sealing means providing at least asemi-seal for said opening, said sealing means comprising a flexibleflap having a length at least as great as that of said opening, saidflap being formed with a longitudinal Z-fold to provide inner and outermargins connected by a central portion providing uppositely disposedinner and outer bights respectively receiving therein said inner andouter free edges, said central portion and said outer margin beingformed with registering rows of buttonholes, at least some of saidbuttonholes of each of said last named rows being in registry with saidrow of buttonholes on said outer free edge, said buttons being passedthrough the registering buttonholes of said three rows of the same toreadily releasably close said opening and readily detachably secure saidflap across said opening in sealing relation thereto, and saidbuttonholes of said flap not registering with those of said garmentadapting said flap for use with other garments having differentbuttonhole arrangements.

8. In a nether garment including a waistband having belt loops thereon,the combination with a fly opening through said waistband, said flyopening being defined by inner and outer flies having free edges, therebeing a belt'loop on each fly; of sealing means providing at least asemi-seal for said opening, said sealing means comprising asubstantially flat S-shaped body of sheet material having a lengthcorresponding substantially to that of said opening, said sealing meansincluding inner and outer bights respectively receiving therein saidfree edges of said inner and outer flies, and securing means for readilydetachably securing said body to said belt loops.

9. The combination of claim 8, wherein said body of sheet materialincludes inner and outer top free edges in 6 substantially flushrelation with said waist band, and said securing means comprising tietapes on said free top edges.

10. The combination with a garment having an opening defined byoverlapping inner and outer garment free edges, at least one individualseparable fiastener element on each edge for securing said free edgestogether; of a flexible flap for sealing said opening, said flap beingat least as long as said opening, said flap having an inner marginunderlying said inner free edge, said flap having an integral middleportion which is reversely directed to extend between said inner andouter free edges and provide an inner bight receiving said inner freeedge therein, said middle flap portion being formed with a holetherethrough in registry with said fastener elements, said flap havingan integral outer margin Which is reversely directed relative to saidmiddle portion to overlie said outer free edge and provide an outerbight receiving said outer free edge therein, means readily detachablysecuring said outer flap margin in said overlying relation to said outerfree edge, said inner margin and said middle portion of said flap havingfree lower edges, and means securing said lower edges together.

11. In a body garment, the combination with a garment opening defined byoverlapping inner and outer free edges; of sealing means providing atleast a semi-seal for said opening, said sealing means comprising asubstantially flat S-shaped body of sheet material having a lengthsubstantially the same as the length of said opening, said sealing meansincluding oppositely directed inner and outer bights respectivelyreceiving therein said inner and outer free edges, means for readilydetachably securing said sealing means to said garment, said body havingthree superposed lower edges, and means securing at least two of saidlower edges together.

12. In a body garment, the combination with a garment opening defined byoverlapping inner and outer free edges; of sealing means providing atleast a semi-seal for said opening, said sealing means comprising asubstantially flat S-shaped body of sheet material having a lengthsubstantially the same as the length of said opening, said sealing meansincluding oppositely directed inner and outer bights respectivelyreceived therein said inner and outer free edges, means for readilydetachably securing said sealing means to said garment, said body havinginner, middle and outer lower edges, and means securing at least saidinner and middle lower edges together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. THE COMBINATION WITH A GARMENT HAVING AN OPENING DEFINED BYOVERLAPPING INNER AND OUTER GARMENT FREE EDGES, AT LEAST ONE INDIVIDUALSEPARABLE FASTENER ELEMENT ON EACH EDGE FOR SECURING SAID FREE EDGESTOGETHER; OF A FLEXIBLE FLAP FOR SEALING SAID OPENING, SAID FLAP BEINGAT LEAST AS LONG AS SAID OPENING, SAID FLAP HAVING AN INNER MARGINUNDERLYING SAID INNER FREE EDGE, SAID FLAP HAVING AN INTEGRAL MIDDLEPORTION WHICH IS REVERSELY DIRECTED TO EXTEND BETWEEN SAID INNER ANDOUTER FREE EDGES AND PROVIDE AN INNER BIGHT RECEIVING SAID INNER FREEEDGE THEREIN, SAID MIDDLE FLAP PORTION BEING FORMED WITH A HOLETHERETHROUGH IN REGISTRY WITH SAID FASTENER ELEMENTS, SAID FLAP HAVINGAN INTEGRAL OUTER MARGIN WHICH IS REVERSELY DIRECTED RELATIVE TO SAIDMIDDLE PORTION TO OVERLIE SAID OUTER FREE EDGE AND PROVIDE AN OUTERBIGHT RECEIVING SAID OUTER FREE EDGE THEREIN, AND MEANS READILYDETACHABLY SECURING SAID OUTER FLAP MARGIN TO ONE OF SAID SEPARATEFASTENER ELEMENTS IN SAID OVERLYING RELATION TO SAID OUTER FREE EDGE.